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Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technologies Masters/MSc

Start date
September
Duration
1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
Course Type
Postgraduate, Taught
Fees

We charge an annual tuition fee. Fees for 2024/25:
£11,340 (UK students)
£29,340 (International students)
Further fee information is available.

This is the first-of-its-kind delivery, addressing an immediate need of the UK industry in Fuel Cell and hydrogen technologies as part of a nationwide and global drive for sustainable energy.

Scholarships for 2024 entry

The University of Birmingham is proud to offer a range of scholarships for our postgraduate programmes. With a scholarship pot worth over £2 million, we are committed to alleviating financial barriers to support you in taking your next steps.

Each scholarship has its own specific deadlines and eligibility criteria. Please familiarise yourself with the information on individual scholarship webpages prior to submitting an application.

Explore our scholarships

As fuel cells increasingly penetrate the market there is increasing demand from a diverse range of industries from transport including automotive, shipping and aeronautical through to lightweight state-of-the-art military applications and power generation providing power to buildings, refrigeration and pollution-free generators.

The use of fuel cells is diverse and stands to play a vital role as the world transitions to more sustainable technologies. This MSc programme offers vital training that has been developed around real world industry need so that graduates will be able to join research teams at the forefront of this technology and make a difference to the nationwide and global effort for sustainability.

The course consists of 120 taught credits which typically involves 12 modules taught in one week blocks. The modules have been carefully designed to give a solid grounding in those aspects of fuel cell and hydrogen technology that are most relevant to industry and ongoing research in this field. You will also have opportunity to study business and project management modules that give advanced training in knowledge and skills that our industry partners have helped identify as most valuable for the leaders of tomorrow.

You will undertake a 60 credit research project that will allow you to take an in-depth and focussed look at a particular area conducting cutting-edge research supported by leading academics in the field of fuel cell technology. During this project you will gain a thorough grounding in experimental and theoretical research work.

Why study Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technologies Masters at Birmingham?

  • Our course demonstrates the exciting future promise of hydrogen, fuel cells and their applications in a zero-emission world and examines challenges at the forefront of fuel cell technologies as organisations increasingly seek to commercialise or further develop existing products (from vehicles to generators).
  • The course will explain how fuel cells can play a leading role in global energy sustainability in a way that is most beneficial to humanity.
  • Industry supports our developments leading to solid employability within the field, but it should be noted the knowledge and skills learned are highly transferable and relevant to a diverse range of careers
  • The course supports entrepreneurial spirit with three spin-out companies in hydrogen and fuel cells founded.
  • High quality teaching in top grade REF School by leading academics in the field of fuel cell and hydrogen technology
  • Be part of the largest academic research community in fuel cell technology in UK

Modules

This programme provides taught modules (120 credits) in fuel cell and hydrogen technology, business and project management, and a dissertation (60 credits). 

The programme can be studied full-time over one year, or part-time over two years. Modules are also available individually to fulfil continuing professional development needs.

Core modules

Choose one of the following

Optional modules

Select 40 credits from the following or 50 credits if the 10-credit module Hydrogen Safety is chosen. Example optional modules are listed below:

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Fees

 

Tuition fees for UK students 2024/25

MSc:  Full-time £11,340. Part-time £5,670.

Tuition fees for International students 2024/25

MSc: Full-time £29,340.

 


Are you an international applicant?

All international applicants to this course will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit of £2,000 on receipt of an offer, to secure their place.

Find out more about the deposit >>.

Postgraduate Loans (PGL) for Masters students

UK and EU students (with settled or pre-settled status) looking to pursue a Masters programme in the UK can apply for a non-means-tested loan from the British government via the Student Loans Company (SLC).

The loan will be paid directly to you, into a UK bank account. It is intended to provide a contribution towards the costs of Masters study and whether the loan is used towards fees, maintenance or other costs is at your own discretion.

Learn more about applying for PGL 

 

Scholarships

Chemical Engineering PG Taught Entrance Scholarship

The school of Chemical Engineering is happy to be able to recognise and reward our top incoming students to celebrate your academic achievements before arriving as a student at the University of Birmingham.
The Chemical Engineering PGT Entrance Scholarship consists of a £1000 cash award during year 1 semester 1 for the students who meet the conditions.
There are 10 awards available; 5 will be allocated to UK students for fees and 5 will be allocated to international students for fees.

We offer a range of postgraduate scholarships for taught programmes and research opportunities to ensure the very best talent is nurtured and supported at postgraduate level.

University scholarships

Birmingham Masters Scholarship

Our Birmingham Masters Scholarship offers £2,000 via a tuition fee discount, to support the brightest and best applicants from UK or Ireland undertaking Masters study at Birmingham during 2024-2025.

Global Masters Scholarship

This £2,000 Gloabl Masters Scholarship award is available to all international students from a selection of countries who are seeking to study a taught Masters degree at Birmingham in the 2024-25 academic year.

 

How To Apply

International applicants requiring visas

Applications to this programme from students who are international for fees will close 7 May 2024. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full, early applications are encouraged.

UK and non-Tier 4 applicants

Applications will close 31 August 2024. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full, early applications are encouraged.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

You should have, or expect to obtain, a 2:1 Honours degree from a UK academic institution (or an equivalent overseas qualification) in engineering or physical sciences.

Consideration may also be given to excellent applicants with degrees in life sciences and economics where these included an adequate component of mathematics.

Further consideration may be given to candidates with extensive, relevant post-degree experience.

Learn more about entry requirements. 

International Requirements



International Students

English language

For students whose first language is not English, one of the following English language qualifications is required:

 
  • IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band
  • TOEFL: 80 overall with no less than 19 in Reading, 19 in Listening, 21 in Speaking and 19 in Writing
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) including online: Academic 64 with no less than 59 in all four skills
  • Cambridge English (exams taken from 2015): Advanced – minimum overall score of 169, with no less than 162 in any component

This programme provides an ideal foundation for a career in fuel cell technologies or the broader energy sector. Our graduates will gain expertise not only in fuel cells but also in the energy sector in general and the processes by which energy is generated and utilised.

The programme comprises 120 credits of taught material, the majority of which will be taught in intensive mode (week long modules) and a 60 credit research project carried out under the supervision of one of the members of the School’s academic staff.

The core taught material will be delivered in the form of lectures, tutorials, seminars and workshops, with the incorporation of expertise both from other Schools in the University, and external professionals from the fuel cell and energy sector.

Extensive use of online support will also be employed to ensure that students can get the most flexible experience possible.

This course will run over 12 months in a full-time mode, and there is also scope to undertake the programme on a part-time basis.

The annual investment in fuel cell and global energy infrastructure is vast and will need to increase yet further in order for challenges surrounding energy supply and demand, sustainability and climate change to be tackled.

The opportunities for exciting careers in fuel cell and the related energy sector are already growing rapidly and will continue to expand in line with the scale of this challenge. The knowledge and skills obtained during this course will give an excellent basis for a career oriented towards working in this sector or continuing research into PhD study and academia. This programme will be a spring board to a career in the expanding energy sector although the skills are transferable and our graduates will be well adapted for a diverse range of careers.

 

University Careers Network

Preparation for your career should be one of the first things you think about as you start university. Whether you have a clear idea of where your future aspirations lie or want to consider the broad range of opportunities available once you have a Birmingham degree, our Careers Network can help you achieve your goal.

Our unique careers guidance service is tailored to your academic subject area, offering a specialised team (in each of the five academic colleges) who can give you expert advice. Our team source exclusive work experience opportunities to help you stand out amongst the competition, with mentoring, global internships and placements available to you. Once you have a career in your sights, one-to-one support with CVs and job applications will help give you the edge.

If you make the most of the wide range of services you will be able to develop your career from the moment you arrive.